Code Acura CL 2001 User Guide

CONT INUED
Your car has a trailer lighting
connector located in the trunk by the
lef t taillight. To use the connector,
undo the f astener and unscrew the
cargo net mounting button on the
lef t side of the trunk lining. Ref er to
the drawing in this page for the
wiring color code and purpose of
each pin.
If you use a converter, you can get
the connector and pins that mate
with the connector in your car f rom
your Acura dealer.
Since lighting and wiring vary in
trailer type and brand, you should
also have a qualif ied mechanic install
a suitable connector between the
vehicleandthetrailer.
Driving
Towing a Trailer
T railer L ights
199
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If your car’s battery is disconnected
or goes dead, the audio system will
disableitself.Thenexttimeyouturn
on the radio you will see ‘‘ ’’
in the f requency display. Use the
Preset buttons to enter the five-digit
code (see page ).If your car’s battery is disconnected
or goes dead, all stored driving
positions will be lost. To store the
driving positions again, see the
storingprocedureonpage .
The Navigation System will also
disableitself.Thenexttimeyouturn
on the ignition switch, the system
will require you to enter a PIN
bef ore it can be used. Ref er to the
Navigation System Owner’s Manual.
157
103
3.2 CL with Navigation System
Battery
Maint enance238
Charging the battery with the cables
connected can seriously damage your
car’s electronic controls. Detach the
battery cables bef ore connecting the
battery to a charger.

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You should use a quality liquid or
paste wax. Apply it according to the
instructions on the container. In
general, there are two types of
products:
Waxes A wax coats the finish and
protects it f rom damage by exposure
to sunlight, air pollution, etc. You
should use a wax on your Acura
when it is new.
Polishes Polishes and cleaner/
waxes can restore the shine to paint
that has oxidized and lost some of its
shine. They normally contain mild
abrasives and solvents that remove
the top layer of the f inish. You should use a polish on your Acura if
the f inish does not have its original
shine af ter using a wax.
Clean your Acura’s aluminum alloy
wheels as you do the rest of the
exterior.Washthemwiththesame
solution, and rinse them thoroughly.
The wheels have a protective clear-
coat that keeps the aluminum from
corroding and tarnishing. Using
harsh chemicals, including some
commercial wheel cleaners, or stif f
brushes can damage this clear-coat.
Only use a mild detergent and sof t
brush or sponge to clean the wheels.
Always wash and dry the whole car
bef ore waxing it. You should wax
your car, including the metal trim,
whenever water sits on the surf ace
in large patches. It should f orm into
beads or droplets af ter waxing.
Cleaning tar, insects, etc. with
removers also takes off the wax.
Remember to re-wax those areas,
even if the rest of the car does not
need waxing.
Inspect your car f requently f or chips
or scratches in the paint. Repair
them right away to prevent corrosion
of the metal underneath. Use the
touch-up paint only on small chips
and scratches. More extensive paint
damage should be repaired by a
prof essional. Your dealer has touch-up paint to
match your car’s color. The color
code is printed on a sticker on the
driver’s doorjamb. Take this code to
your dealer so you are sure to get
the correct color.
Exterior Care
Appearance Care
Waxing
A luminum WheelsPaint T ouch-up
265

Diagnosing why your engine won’t
start f alls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
key to START (III):You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine’s starter
motor does not operate at all, or
operates very slowly.
You can hear the starter motor
operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
f aster than normal, but the engine
does not start up and run. When you turn the ignition switch to
START (III), you do not hear the
normal noise of the engine trying to
start. You may hear a clicking sound
or series of clicks, or nothing at all.
Check these things:
Check the transmission interlock.
The transmission must be in Park
orNeutralorthestarterwillnot
operate. Your car has the Immobilizer
System. You should use a
properly-coded master or valet key
to start the engine (see page ).
A key that is not properly coded
will cause the immobilizer system
indicator in the dash panel to blink
rapidly.
Store the jack in its holder. Turn
the jack’s end bracket to lock it in
place. Replace the cover. Store the
tools.
Store the center cap in the trunk.
Make sure it does not get scratch-
ed or damaged.
Unhook the handle f rom the trunk
opening and lower the f loor lid.
Close the trunk lid.
78
20.
21.
22.
23.
Changing a Flat Tire, If Your Engine Won’t Start
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
If Your Engine Won’t Start Nothing Happens or the Starter Motor Operates Very Slowly
278
Loose items can fly around the
interior in a crash and could
seriously injure the occupants.
Store the wheel, jack and tools
securely before driving.

Look f or a burned wire inside the
f use. If it is burned, replace it with
oneof thesparefusesof thesame
rating or lower.If the replacement fuse of the
same rating blows in a short time,
there is probably a serious
electrical problem in your car.
Leave the blown fuse in that
circuit and have your car checked
by a qualif ied mechanic.
If you cannot drive the car without
f ixing the problem, and you do not
have a spare fuse, take a fuse of the
same rating or a lower rating f rom
one of the other circuits. Make sure
youcandowithoutthatcircuit
temporarily (such as the accessory
power socket or radio).
If you replace the blown f use with a
spare f use that has a lower rating, it
might blow out again. This does not
indicate anything wrong. Replace the
f use with one of the correct rating as
soon as you can.
If the radio f use is removed, the
audio system will disable itself . The
nexttimeyouturnontheradioyou
will see ‘‘ ’’ in the f requency
display. Use the Preset buttons to
enter the f ive-digit code (see page).
5.
6.
157
CONT INUED
Fuses
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed291
B BL LOOW WN N
Replacing a f use with one that has a
higher rating greatly increases the
chances of damaging the electrical
system. If you do not have a replace-
ment f use with the proper rating f or the
circuit, install one with a lower rating.

Your car has several identif ying
numbers located in various places.
The Vehicle Identif ication Number
(VIN) is the 17-digit number your
Acura dealer uses to register your
car f or warranty purposes. It is also
necessary f or licensing and insuring
your car. The easiest place to find
the VIN is on a plate fastened to the
top of the dashboard. You can see it
by looking through the windshield
on the driver’s side. It is also on the
Certification label attached to the
driver’s doorjamb, and is stamped on
the engine compartment bulkhead.
The VIN is also provided in bar code
on the Certification label.
Identif ication Numbers
T echnical Inf ormation298
V VE
EH
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ICCL LEE I
IDD E
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NUUMM B
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TI
IOON N L
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#
) This manual complements the Service Manual by
providing in-depth troubleshooting inf ormation f or each
electrical circuit in your vehicle.
This manual describes the procedures involved in the
replacement of damaged body parts. This manual covers maintenance and recommended
procedures f or repair to engine and chassis components.
It is written f or the Journeyman mechanic, but is simple
enough f or most mechanically-inclined owners to under-
stand.
Authorized Manuals
Service Manual:
Electrical T roubleshooting Manual:
Body Repair Manual:
316
NOTE: Dealers and Companies please provide dealer or company name,
and also the name of the person to whose attention the shipment should
be sent. For purchases outside U.S.A. please write to the address shown
below for a quotation.
P.O. BOX 07280·DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48207·1-800-782-4356
Customer Name Attention
Apartment Number
State & Zip Code
City
Daytime Telephone Number
Check or money order enclosed payable to Helm Inc U.S. funds only.
Do not send cash
Master
Card VISA
Check here if your billing address is different
from the shipping address shown above.
Account Number Expiration: Mo. Yr.
CUSTOMER SIGNATURE DATE
Street Address No P.O. Box Number
()
These Publications cannot be returned for credit without receiving advance authorization within 14
days of delivery. On returns, a restocking fee may be applied against the original order.

Î
CONT INUED
.................................
Drive Belts . 242
..........................
Engine Coolant . 165
..................................
Engine Oil . 163
..........................................
Fuses . 290
................
Power Steering Fluid . 230
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving . 174
...................................
Cleaner, Air . 231
Cleaning ....................
Aluminum Wheels . 265
...................................
Carpeting . 266
......................................
Exterior . 264
.........................................
Fabric . 267
.......................................
Interior . 266
.......................................
Leather . 267
...................................
Seat Belts . 267
...........................................
Vinyl . 267
....................................
Windows . 268
................................
Wood Trim . 268
...............
Climate Control System . 122
.........................
Clock, Setting the . 110
......................................
Coat Hook . 115
.....................
Code, Audio System . 157
........................
CO in the Exhaust . 306
........................................
Coin Box . 113
............
Cold Weather, Starting in . 175
..............................
Compact Spare . 272.................
Console Compartment . 113
.............................
Console Pocket . 114
...............
Consumer Inf ormation . 310
.............
Controls, Instruments and . 51
Coolant
........................................
Adding . 221
....................................
Checking . 165
.........................
Proper Solution . 221
...................................
Replacing . 223
...................
Temperature Gauge . 62
....................
Corrosion Protection . 269
............................
Courtesy Lights . 119
Crankcase Emissions Control ........................................
System . 306
..............
Cruise Control Operation . 73
..........
Customer Relations Of f ice . 310
................
DANGER, Explanation of . ii
...................................
Dashboard . 2, 52
................
Daytime Running Lights . 67
...........
Dead Battery, What to Do . 280
............
Defects, Reporting Safety . 313
................
Def ogger, Rear Window . 70
......
Def rosting the Windows . 128, 133 DEXRONIII Automatic
...................
Transmission Fluid . 228
....................................
Dimensions . 300
...............
Dimming the Headlights . 65
Dipstick
..........
Automatic Transmission . 228
..................................
Engine Oil . 163
..........................
Directional Signals . 67
.....
Disabled, Towing Your Car If . 295
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 185
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil . 220
Doors ....................
Lockout Prevention . 82
..............................
Monitor Light . 58
......................
Power Door Locks . 81
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 302
.....................................
Drive Belts . 242
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 5
...........................................
Driving . 173
....................................
Economy . 166
.........................
In Bad Weather . 194
................
In Foreign Countries . 305
Driving Position Memory ........................................
System . 103
Index
D
III